Machine for molding concrete slabs



Feb. 17, 1948 J. NOVELLO MACHINE FOR MOLDING CONCRETE SLA BS Filed June 7, 1946 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Feb. 17, 1948 J. NOVELLO MACHINE FOR MOLDING CONCRETE SLABS Filed June '7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 17, 1948 U N I T ED STAT-ESE NT OFF-1C E.

2,436,176; MACHINE FOR, onomer conenn'rnr SLA-BS Joseph Novello San Franei sco, .Calif. Application June-- 7, 1946, Serial No. 675,238

a (Cl.

6 Claims This invention relates to improvements in ma-- and leveled and then allowed to dry, usually, in

molds, but sometimes aredried under heat.

, 2 Theobjects and advantages of are. asiollows:

First, =to;.providei.amachine for. forming. theslabsor panels as outlined andwhich will provide even distribution of..the :raw material andform I therawamaterial to. a. predetermined tnicl rness My invention uses an aggregate consisting chiefly of pumice and a binder of any suitable type, one such binder being sodium silicate which and. limited to a redetermined..:area,. and :which.

willcompress. thev material' into. a compact and bound mass withoutldestruction .of the porosity'oie the materiah Second,: to. provide. a-slabcnpanel forming. ma-c ch'ine which will apportion thematerial for.form L-..- inga: slab-cor panel of predetermined thickness and areaand compress the material to a finished thickness, and. discharge the formed slab or panel 1 I. immediately after completion of the product.-

is' admixed in its syrupy stategenerally referred to as water glass. In this condition the Waterglass will have practically no wettingwefiect on the material, the material will be actually dry totouch and in appearance, yet will form a'firm bond if the material is suitably compressed. Obviously there are many othertypes of binders which are suitable and in some cases result in even a dryer aggregate than when waterglass'is used. The percentage of Waterglass required is is relatively simple in construction and which" so minute as to produce no noticeable wetting effect yet provides a very'firm bond and'simul taneously aterproofs the material.

As is well known, pumice is amineral of ex t remely low specific gravity, is very porous,v and therefore can be made to form a very efiicientv heat insulating material and is therefore ideally suited for various structural, and utility purposes,

making, whenproperly combined with suitable materials which will form. a. binder without wet-v ting and thus avoid filling or clogg n the pores,

and; provided with suitable reinforcing when nec-,.

essary to develop suitable resistance tostresses,v

excellent wall board or paneling, insulating panels for refrigeratingunits, outsidewalls o1 paneh, ing for houses and other buildings, and. other.

like, products.

My invention is designedto use material ofthis. type and formit. into; panels or slabs of any desired thickness and of, suitably large .di.-' mensions when desired so that the pane1s, ,or slabs will be suitable for th various purposesv and tributor operating through the return pass and Third-,- toprovide- :a machine as outlined which distributes the material within thepredetermined area intwo passes to permit introduction of reinf orcing elements intermediate the thickness of the slab 'or' panel;

Fourth; to provide a machine as outlined which i will remove the product upon completion and-- clear the machine for further production;

Fifth; to provide amachine as outlinedwhich operates-with the highest efiiciency and uniformity."

describing the invention reference will-be made -to theaccompanyingdrawings, in which: Fig: 1 is a longitudinal: sectional elevation' through the invention showingth'e' machine at' the-time offcompleting its forward and return-- passesfordistributionof the material to -a pre determined thickness; I

Fig.-2- is a front elevation with one-half shown in section.

Fig.3 isa diagrammatic view showing the disT- tribu-tor operating-through the firstpass and laying the lower layer of mix.

Fig; -4-is a diagrammatic view showing the dislaying the top layer of 'mix."

Fig; 5 showsthe top layer completed and the hydraulic *apparatus compressing the'laye s into structures to whichit is suited and to permit the,

inclusion of reinforcing materials or elements,

and to carry out the process semi-automatically so-that the finished panels or slabs can be manu--- factured and discharged at a relatively high rate of speed and with absolute uniformity in area,

thickness; strength and homogeneity.

Fig. 6 shows the ejection of the-finished slab from' the-machine;

The slab and panel forming machine includes a suitable frame I0 having a crown llatthe top and-a base l2 at the bottom to function as reactance' elements for the hydraulic pressure apparatus ,--together-with suitable base stringers -I 3 and cross-members "I 4.

Supported bythecrown-l l l isa plura1ity of hythe invention;

draulic cylinders and I6 which have their respective ends simultaneously served by the same fluid lines I! and 18 which are controlled by a suitable valve l9 preferably of the four-way type with a discharge 26.

An equal number of hydraulic cylinders 2| and 22 is supported by the base member I2 and also have mutual connections 23 and 24 to the respective ends and controlled by another valve 25 having a discharge 26. Each of the cylinders has a distribution and leveling of the material. Though shown on the forward end, the screed is not limited to this position but may be located within the mouth of the hopper, or directly back of the 5 hopper, or both, as may be necessary to obtain a level surface with each pass of the head.

This apportioning hopper has a capacity equal to the volume of material required to provide the desired thickness of slab and receives its portion 10 of material from a feed hopper 63 which is proplunger, respectively 21 and 28 for the upper and Supporting members 31 extend rearwardly from. the rear transverse beamv and are supported by a rearwardly extending frame 38-7-39 formed as .an extension of the main frame ill, with the members 38 and 39 suitably spaced by uprights 40 and 4!. Another extension in the form of a table 42 extends from the front end of the machine to receive and support the finished slabs or panels 43; the top of the, table 42, beams 29, 30, 3| and 32, and table 31 being all in the same plane. 1

Vertically adjustable within the rectangular frame formed by the beams 29 to 32 is a bed 44 which has projecting'flanges 45 to limit the upward movement with the top of the bed in the same plane as the top of the beams when in its uppermost position in which case a plane surface extends throughout the length of the machine including the table 42. i c

This bed is supported bythe plungers 26, and

downward movement limiting means is indicated 45 for selective limitation to two steps, such as the levers 46 and 41 which are adjustable as indicated at 48, and which when swung inward will limit added with a gate 64 which is automatically controlled by the apportioning hopper for filling the 1 apportioning hopper and closing the gate, and

controlled manually for initiating this automatic control.

Supported on the longitudinal beams 29 2o The control means consists of a lip 65 on the rearward end of the gate and a shoulder 66 slightly'foiward thereof to leave a recess therebetween, for cooperation with a tongue 61 on the forward end of the hopper which normally engages in the recess between the elements 65 and 66, but

which tongue is pivotally mounted on a shaft 68 and has a slotted lever 69 in which a pin 10 on a p lever H is slidable and which lever H includes.

25 a control arm 12 andbeing pivoted at 13. A

the downward movement to a predetermined degree, and when swung out as shown will permit the lowering of the bed to the adjustable stops 49 and 56, thus providing for the two layer bedding of the composition for forming the slabs or panels.

tension of the frame as indicated at 55 and having fluid connections 56 and 51 at its opposite ends controlled by a suitable valve58 having connection with a fluid supply line 53 and with a discharge 66.

Mounted on the forward end of the head 5| is an apportioning hopper and distributor 6| the lower end of which opens at the level of the surfaces 35, 36 so that the cross-members 3| and 32 function as a gate at both ends of the stroke.

of the head, anda soreed62 is mounted on the forward end of apportioning hopper for even cam i4 is mountedon each of the guides 33 and 34 and the control unit is duplicated on the other side of the machine for control from either or 5 ;both sides.

in the positions shown in Fig. 1, and the bed has been lowered through manual control of the valve 25 to the position shown in Fig. 3 or half way 5 down to rest on the stops 46 and 41 which are swung inward to engage the bottom of the bed,.

valve 58 being adjusted to pass fluid through the and after full closure the arm 12 rides up on the cam 14 swinging lever H back and with it lever .69 and thereby swinging the tongue 6! forward and down so it will not engage with the members 65 and 66 on the gate, and the tongue 6! is sum-1 ciently heavy or is suitably counterweightedtol overcome the leverage of the member 12 so that the lever 12 will not drop of its own accord to 50 again raise the tongue.

At this point the gate is closed and the hopper over and closed by the beam 32.

to lower the bed to rest on the stops 49 and 56.

suitable reinforcing material is now laid on top other layer of material on top of the first layer or on top of the reinforcing, .moving forwardv to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, lever 12 remaining in its raised position and the tongue being in a lowered position so that the tongue. 70 does not engage the member 66 on the gate and I the gate remains closed so that no fresh material This com-' is fed to the apportioning hopper. pletes bedding of the material.

Valve 19 ishow adjustedto secure, the head;

against the rectangular frame 29 to 32, the pres- At the start of a slab forming operation the head 5i, hopper 6i, lever 12 and plunger 21 are.

hopper is discharging and leveling its contents as indicated in Fig. 3 and stops with the mouth of th The valve 25 is now manually operated to": slightly raise the bed to free the stops 46 and; 41 so that they can be swung out to the position" shown in Fig. 2, and the valve is then re-adjusted If reinforcing is desired, a screen 16 or other sure-- for the specific- -aggregate considered being about fifi gpoundsper squareeinch and-:this-JprBs-T spreis maintainedgwhile the valve/1 5 is adjusted to' raisethe" bedandg-compress-the-- material. against ;the head to formandbind *thamaterial into-a siab-orpa-nel; as -indicated in Figl- 5s l The; valve I9 isnext adjusted to raisethe. plunger- 2 1= to free the head next the valve 58 is; adjusted to retract the T head as i indicated in- Fig; 6 followed hyadj-ustmenh of valve; Zt'r-t'o raise the bed untiL stopped by cooperation of the flange--45 with the bottom of the rectangular frame, at whichtime the. entirestope surf ace ins. eludingthe bed; are-at the same" level:

Valve 58{is next adjusted to: drive :the .head fore ward and lever 12 4s -man 1ally urgeckto depress as the-head mpvesforward-- so that afterpassing the" end of the cam manual: depression-- of 1 the lever l2 will raise the tongue'; S'I' to. operative posit-ionand engage themember-GB; opening-the gate for another charge of material while the formed and completed slab-onpanel is pushed'out of the machine asindicated-in 6- to-its ejected positionshown in Fig. I.

The next operationis started by lowering the bed} to the; stops 46-- and 41: Thus the machine makesfour passes for forming, compressing,= and ejecting thefinished product, and-theapportioninghopper only-operates the gate during the respective final andinitial stages.

I claim:

1; A machine forformingslabs: and. panels froma relatively dry binder-containing aggregate comprising; ahorizontal-1y mounted slide and guiding and drivingmeans therefor and manualcontrol means -for said driving means; a hopper for aggregatesmonnted on the forward end of said slide; a frame having its top surface in a ,planewith the. .boitflmrsurface g of the slide and forming a supporting surface= .for; the slide; a bed vertically slidable .jin .saidframe and movable to three positions respectively with the top surfacein the same plane as'tlie top of the-frame. and. in two different. loweredv positions.- to, form recesses oftwo differentdepths-within theframe; means. operableat will foreimmovably securing said. slidesagainsththethptof. said frame; and means operable at will for forcing said bed upward against the resistance of said slide to compress aggregates therebetween to compress and bind the aggregates into a panel or slabysaid hopper comprising an apportioning hopper; a feed hopper having a gate, and cooperative means on said apportioning hopper and said gate for opening said gate when said slide is moved forwardly to the limit of its movement and to close said gate upon return movement of the slide, and means limiting opening and closing of said gate to the last movement of one cycle and the initial movement of the next cycle of operations of said slide.

2. Almachine for forming slabs and panels from a relatively dry, binder-containing aggregate comprising; a horizontally mounted slide .and guiding and driving means therefor and manual control means for said driving means; a hopper for aggregates mounted on the forward end of said slide; a frame having its top surface in a plane with the bottom surface of the slide and forming a supporting surface for the slide; a bed vertically slidable in said frame and movable to three positions respectively with the top surface in the same plane as the top of the frame and in two different lowered positions to form recesses of two different depths within the frame;

meansoperabieiats. will for; immoyablye securing; saidislid againsti-the... top -..of.; said:- frame; and; meansoperable at will 'tori-forcing said-bed lapel ward. against theresistancaof saidLslide. to comepressi aggregates.therebetween .to compress. and

bind-the aggregates into-.apanel ort-slabpmeansi for limitinge-movementiofisaidgbedttorthreeaposiri tionsconsisting of I. first; .-stopmmeans on.- saidabedafor cooperationewith said-.frame,-. and secondiand third'stopmeans manuallwcontrollablefor limitingamovementitoitheitwo lowered. positions, and: means for adjustings saida second; and 1 third stop; means for adiusting l the depths; of the. recesses; formed-thereby I 3.- A machine i fore forming; slabs. and. panels; from a relatively dry, binder-containing aggre-;. gatecomprising a. horizontally. mounted. slide. and: guiding :and: driving. means therefore and manual controlmeans. for. said driving means a hopper I for aggregates mounted: on the. forward end of said slide; a frame having its tomsurs. face in aplane with: the bottom I surface-01: that slide and forming a supporting; surface for the slide a a bed vertica11=y:. slidable in.=.said gframe. and movable to three. positions respectively. with the. top surface. in .the sameuplane :asthe top'zofitheframe and" in twov di-iferentdowered positionsto form recesses of two different depth Within/the frame; means operableizab will for.v immovably. securingsaid slide againstxthe top of said frame; and means operable at will for forcing said-bed upward against the: resistance: of. said slide to compress aggregates therebetween tocompress andbind the aggregatesiinto. a-panel orslab; said. hopper comprisingv an apportioning hopper; a. feed'hopper having agate; and cooperative meanson said-apportioning hopperand said gate. for. openingsaid gate when saidslide. iscmovedzfora. \vardly to-the limit. of its movement .-.and .to-clcse. said gate uponreturn .movement: ofe the. slide; and means limitingopening.-and closingof said. gate to the last movement'xof one cyclesand'the initial movement of the. next cyclecof I operations of 1 said slide; means. for limiting "movement;- of said bed to three positions consisting: of first stop means onsaid :bed :for cooperation with said frame; and second and third stop means man-. ually :con'trollable. for. limiting. movement to i the. two lowered positions, and means for adjusting said second and third stop means for adjusting the depths of the recesses formed thereby.

4. A machine for forming slabs and panels from a relatively dry, binder-containing aggregate, comprising; a horizontal slideway and a slide operable therein and means for driving said slide in opposite directions at will; a frame for supporting said slide and functioning partly as a part of said slide-way; a bed vertically slidable in said frame, and power means manually controllable for raising and lowering said bed to a plurality of positions in one of which the top of the bed is co-planar with the top of the frame and bottom of the slide and in another of which a recess of predetermined depth is formed within the frame; a hopper carried by said slide for distributing and leveling aggregates to fill the recess; means for locking said slide against the top of said frame; said power means being manually controllable to operate said bed to compress the aggregates against the bottom of said slide, and to raise the undersurface of the compressed aggregates to the level of the top of said frame when said slide is released and retracted for ejection of the finished product through advance movement of said slide; said hopper comprising mature an apportioning hopper; a 'feed'hopper-having a gate, and cooperative meanson said apportioning hopper and said gate for opening said gate when said slide is movedtforwardly to the limit of its movement and .to close said gate upon return movement of .the slide, and means limiting opening andclosing of said gate to the lastmovement of one cycle and theiinitialmovement of the next cycle of operations of saidslide.

5.v A machine for forming slabs and panels from a relatively dry, binder-containing a i gate, comprising; a, horizontal slidewav and a .slide operable therein and means for driving said slide in opposite directions at will; a-Vframe for supporting said slide and functioning partly, as a part of said slide-way; a bed vertically; slidable; in said frame, and power means manually controllable for raising and lowering said bed toa plurality of positions in one of which the topof the bed is co-planar with the top of the frame and bottom of the slide and inanother of which a recess of predetermined depth is formed within the frame; axhopper carried by said slide for distributing and leveling aggregates to fill the recess;means for'locking said slide against the top of said frame; said power means being manuallywcontrollable to operate said bed to compress the aggregates against the bottom of said slide, and to raise the undersurface of the compressed aggregates to the level of the top of said frame when said slide is released and retracted for ejection ofthe finished product through ad- Vance movement of said slide; means for limiting movement of said-bedto three positions consisting of first stop means on saidbed for cooperation with said frame, and second stop means manually controllable for limiting movement to anintermediateposition, and third stop means for limiting movement tothe lowermost position, and means for adjusting said second and third stop means for adjusting the depths of the recesses formed thereby.-

6. A machine for forming slabs and panels from a relatively dry, binder-containing aggregate, comprising; a horizontal slideway and a I slide operable therein and means for driving said slide in oppositedirectionsat will; a frame for supporting said slide. and functioning partly as 8 a part of said slide-way; a bed vertically slidable in said frame, and power means manually controllable for raising and lowering said bed toia plurality of positions in one of which the top of distributing and leveling aggregates to fill the recess; means for locking said slide against the top of said frame; said power means being manually controllable to operate said bed to compress the aggregates against the bottom of saidslide, and to raise the undersurface of the compressed aggregates to the level of the top of said frame when said slide is released and retracted for ejection of the finished product through advance movement of said slide; said hopper comprising an apportioning hopper; a feed hopper having a gate, and cooperative means on said apportioning hopper and said gate for opening said gate when said slide is moved'forwardly to the limit of its movement and to close said gate upon return movement of the slide, and means limiting opening and closing of said gate to the last movement of one cycle and the initial movement of the next cycle of operations of said slide; means for limiting movement of said bed to three positions consisting of first stop means on said bed for cooperation with said frame, and second and third stop means manually controllable for limiting movement to respective lowered positions, and means for adjusting said second and third stop means for adjusting the depths of the recesses formed thereby.

JOSEPH NOVELLO. REFERENCES crrnnf The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1 7

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 2,386,641 Trockle et al. Oct. 9, 1945 

